It seems like, for reasons of plot convenience, the Ian/Cindy relationship will follow the same 'route' (keeping their relationship secret) regardless of whether she is on the 'romance' or 'cheating' path.
It's understandable - following through with the relevant consequences in Ian's social circle would be a massive undertaking and would need to be accounted for in every subsequent update. At the same time, it is a little disappointing for those on the Ian/Cindy love route. I guess it is a little annoying that Ian and Lena seem as if they will be trapped in their initial groups of friends for most, if not all, of the game. (Ian/Axel could have been a friendship that would develop separately, but alas.)
Still, it would be nice for those on the Ian/Cindy love route to be able to take her on a proper date or have some non-sexual scene for them to develop their relationship and to see what chemistry (if any) Eva puts in place for their pairing.
I have to admit to losing a bit of faith with Eva's ability to make our choices really feel like they matter fully. I've mentioned previously that Holly is forced into the pole dancing classes in this chapter if she didn't follow through earlier, forcing her to associate with Ivy anyway.
Now, I get that Eva has to consolidate certain choices so as to lighten the load for her writing too many branching narratives, and she could of course still write this particular route in a way to flavour it more in a neutral way compared to Holly starting those classes early on, but I really did feel cheated out of concrete differences taking account of how I want Lena and Holly to associate.
I'd argue that if anything Lena needs fewer scenes involving Ivy, not more.
If you choose to not have Holly do those pole dancing classes early on, all it leads to are fewer Holly appearances, with no increase in Holly-Louise relations for example, only for it to loop back around and seemingly disregard your choice entirely. Lena and Holly can be friends and fall in love all the same. Boring deviation that Eva might as well just retcon away at this point, unless she surprises me and actually does have some differences planned.
I feel similarly bummed out that Cindy seems to be consolidated entirely into this cheating route, when it's very reasonable that many players would want her to break up with Wade sooner rather than later.
I guess I am pensively waiting to see if it goes anywhere, both this and the Holly thing.
